My four-day rail and ferry adventure from the UK to Albania
From London to Tirana, via Chambéry’s medieval streets, bustling Bari and Albania’s dynamic capital, this trip across Europe has treats at every turn
Confessions of an 82-year-old hitchhiker
The founder of the Bradt travel guides and author of a new memoir has been thumbing lifts all over the world since her teens – and has no intention of stopping now
My hike on the hardest trail in Europe – Corsica’s GR20
Even an ‘easy’ part of this 125-mile walking trail on the French island presents challenges for mind and body, but the rewards for persistence are infinite
My hammock was my window on to the valley: a new type of walking trail in the Swiss Alps
The world’s first hammock hiking trail in southern Switzerland takes hikers into quiet corners of the Alps – with their beds in their backpack for lazy pit stops and overnight stays
10 of the best European activity breaks with a spirit of adventure
Fancy seatrekking, swimrunning or bodypainting? These and more familiar outdoor pursuits are on offer at destinations from northern Norway to the Greek islands
Brilliant activity breaks by readers – from Portugal to the Lake District
River trekking, paragliding, cycling and via ferrata feature among our tipsters’ adventurous jaunts across Europe
‘I’ve made friends for life’: Rising number of travellers find going solo is the ticket to happiness
Holidays alone are getting easier. The number of single trips has risen from 6% in 2011 to 16% in 2023, according to latest figures from the Association of British Travel Agents
‘If you are not lost within a minute, you’re not trying hard enough’ – my search for magical Morocco
It’s celebrated as a place that influenced generations of artists. Our writer attempts to recapture the spirit on an overland journey from London to Marrakech and the Atlas Mountains
I took on Europe’s toughest trek – Corsica’s spectacular GR20 – and came back changed for the better
With a tent and little else our writer set off along the GR20, known as Europe’s toughest trek. It was an experience that sharpened the senses and offered rich rewards
My Greek sailing adventure: across the Ionian sea to Ithaca
Islands and mainland towns south of Lefkada are perfect for a relaxed mooch between idyllic beaches and pretty port towns
I campervanned across Ireland alone – and climbed as many mountains as I could
Soon after a painful separation, this traveller had to overcome fears of solitude – but the mountains, seas and bars she found helped her let go
‘Turn left for paradise’: top 10 readers’ adventure trips
Trekking, climbing, abseiling, kayaking and more – tipsters reveal the ups and downs of their intrepid active holidays
The ultimate haute cuisine: outdoor cooking on the Lake District’s fells
Harrison Ward, better known as Fell Foodie, began cooking elaborate meals on mountain summits as a way to improve his mental health. Now he’s sharing his recipes in a cookbook
How I learned to make and sleep in a Swedish snowhole – at minus 30C
Kevin Rushby saw a way to fulfil his childhood dream with an adventure company in Sweden – but could he ski into the snowy wilderness on a twisted ankle?
How taking up running changed the way I travel
Learning to run was inspirational, but it has also changed my approach to travelling, which is now based on staying near green spaces and beautiful places to jog